The 38th Annual General Meeting of the apex cooperative body of fishermen Fishcopfed was a mix of hope and despair. Though the cooperative body was able to reduce its losses from Rs 70 lakhs to 50 lakhs, the continued apathy of the govt is an issue of discussion and concern.
“By resorting to various activities we were able to generate some money on our own and made up for Rs 20 Lakhs at least this year”, said B K Mishra, MD of Fishcopfed. “We continue to petition the govt on the issue of support to Fishcopfed”, added T. Prasad Rao Dora the Chairman.
Delegates numbering 70 came from close to 15 states of the country. They narrated their tale of hardship before the leaders who themselves were a helpless lot in the current situation.
Though the Modi govt has made ambitious plans for Blue Revolution, it has sidetracked Fishcopfed in the venture.
The prospect of Fishcopfed were bright till recently but turned bleak once the govt stopped paying it the service charge for the insurance it was doing for fishermen. In a short period it was able to insure more than 46 lakh of them- no mean feat by any standards.
“When we meet the officials they refer to clauses of tender awarded to carry forward the insurance scheme; they are expecting us to take this number from 46 lakh to 70 lakh but how can we do it without financial support”, said Dora.
Fishcopfed MD gave details of activities undertaken by the cooperative body in order to meet the challenges before the AGM. Marketing of CIFAX, dry fish, ornamental fish, mobile vans, setting up training institutes and many such things started by Fishcopfed were lauded in the General Body.
